Which Arizona State players have made preseason watchlists?

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein calls Miller a projected first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and he's on the Biletnikoff Award preseason watchlist.

BY ETHAN KINNEY

Aug 25, 2026, 11:51 AM Updated: 12:12 pm

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Five Arizona State Sun Devils have put themselves on preseason watchlists for the 2026 college football season: Omarion Miller, C.J. Fite, Owen Long, Tana Alo-Tupuola and Zyrus Fiaseu.

Here’s a quick look at each of them:

WR Omarion Miller – Biletnikoff Award

By far ASU’s highest-profile transfer, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls Miller a projected first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Last season with the Colorado Buffaloes, Miller exploded onto the scene with 45 catches for 808 yards with eight touchdowns after only posting just over 200 yards in each of his first two seasons.

His best games of the season came against Kansas State, where he hauled in nine catches for 121 yards, and against West Virginia, where he caught six passes for 131 yards.

He’ll look to compete for the Biletnikoff Award, given out to college football’s most prolific pass catcher. With fluid route-running and elite after-the-catch ability, he will look to fill the role that now-New Orleans Saints receiver Jordyn Tyson had for ASU last season.

DL C.J. Fite – Outland Trophy and Nagurski Trophy

Now a senior, Fite has been a mainstay of ASU’s defense since he arrived in 2023.

During his sophomore season, he amassed 30 tackles and two sacks, eventually earning himself second-team All-Big 12 during ASU’s magical 2024-25 season. Last year was no different, finishing with 29 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.

Fite has found himself not only on the preseason watchlist for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football, but also for the Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the National Defensive Player of the Year.

LB Owen Long – Butkus Award

Last year at Colorado State, Long put up an impressive 151 tackles, which led the FBS. Now he’s bringing that firepower to Arizona State’s linebacker room.

He received first-team All-Mountain West honors last season and AP nominated him a third-team All-American.

This year with ASU, the junior is an early candidate to be in the running for the Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in college football.

OL Tana Alo-Tupuola – Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

Last season at Georgia Tech, Alo-Tupuola played in 10 games including four at center. He was a key piece in what was the 11th ranked offense in the nation in yards per game.

The junior center will look to offer that same impact for the Sun Devils’ offense this year, while also representing his Polynesian heritage. He is up for the Polynesian Player of the Year.

LB Zyrus Fiaseu – Allstate Wuerffel Trophy

In 2024, Fiaseu made a great first impression for ASU. He totaled 34 tackles and had a pick-six. However, after foot surgery ended his 2025 season after four games, Fiaseu suffered a lower body injury and will be out for the 2026 season as well.

Fiaseu made the preseason watchlist for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded for excellence not only in the field, but in the classroom and the community. He serves as a member of the Pat Tillman Leadership Council.